watering in pots

How much water should I let run out of the bottom of a potted plant? Is it better to allow water to flow through for a period of time, or just enough to come out the bottom a little? Does running lots of water through the soil allow it to absorb more moisture?

Water them until water comes out through the bottom (allow water coming out from the bottom to run out). The exact amount will vary depending on the size of the plant and its conditions. If your plant has dried out completely, the soil can actually repel the water. In this case, try letting water run over it for 5-10 minutes to rehydrate.